71 Dear Pete

Congratulations on having the Broad Street Presbyterian project written up in the Columbus Dispatch. I’ve looked at your web site, read the history of your firm, and am thrilled you are doing so well.

But Pete, I’m a little concerned about that first line in the article. “Broad Street Presbyterian has 37 restrooms. . .” and the intention, if the writer got this right, is to consolidate them into one area?

Pete, I know a little about restrooms in churches. I’m a member of PSALM (potty sign and light ministry) at our church. No one at my church listens to me, but not to worry, my advice is still good.

1) Don’t consolidate too much. Elderly members and mothers with toddlers will want easily available restrooms. They need to be near entrances, classrooms, recreation areas, and dining areas.
2) Don’t rely on “can” lights. If you must use them, install small incandescent wall lamps over each stall like Panera‘s. Having every third stall bathed in eery dim light is not good stewardship.
3) Don’t install the toilet paper dispensers so low to the floor that people have to bend over to tear off a piece. Eventually the toilet paper is dragging on the floor and water from the toilets is splashing, if you get my drift.
4) Don’t install the paper towel dispensers so high that children can’t reach them, or spec a brand that can be packed so tightly you develop rotator cuff problems using them.
5) Needless to say, don’t spec those awful hot air hand dryers--women hate them, and they are very unsanitary, blowing urine and fecal matter around. You can't mop up water, wipe a child's face, or dab at the chicken salad you spilled on your shirt with those dryers.
6) Look for soap dispensers that won’t dribble all over the counters.
7) Don’t make all the toilets low enough for 5 year olds so that all the adults head for the handicapped stalls.
8) Restroom stalls need to accomodate people larger than a size 2. Take a look at the BMI of the average member, and work from that scale.

And Pete, if anyone tells you churches don’t need separate coat rooms anymore, I invite you to stop by ours any Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and look at the jumbled, ugly mess that idea causes.

My love to the wife and kids.

Norma